UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT DOCTRINE

CONSIDERATION 1: UNDERSTANDING THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT DOCTRINE UNDER 38 U.S.C.§ 5107(b):

Effective advocates understand (1) the benefit of the doubt doctrine and (2) that the doctrine applies to each element of a claim.

The key language: “ . . . When there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding any issue material to the determination of a matter [VA] shall give the benefit of the doubt to the claimant.”
“The tie goes to the runner.” read Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49 (1990); Alemany v. Brown, 9 Vet.App. 518 (1996).
The benefit of the doubt doctrine is not applicable based on pure speculation or remote possibility. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.102.
One VLJ’s view: The benefit of the doubt is not based on a numerical calculation – the key inquiry is whether there is an approximate balance of evidence that is (1) factually informed; (2) competent and (3) responsive to the issue.

CONSIDERATION 2: THE THREE OBSTACLES (SITUATIONAL ADVERSARIES?) TO A GRANT IN BVA PRACTICE

This is a non-adversarial practice. Claims are denied because of lack of probative evidence, unsubstantiated allegations, and unfocused participants. Effective advocates build the record, deal with evidentiary weakness, and assist the trier to find for their client.

The UNRECALLED FACT OR SOURCE: when, where, who, why, how

The UNSUBSTANTIATED: fact or allegation

The UNFOCUSED: claimant, witness, physician, adjudicator

CONSIDERATION 3: DEALING WITH THE UNRECALLED – PREPARING THE RECORD

Effective advocates play a key role in developing the record, controlling case flow and expediting case disposition.

“Go to the attic:” then contemporaneous letters from/to family members and friends; old doctor’s bills, records; souvenirs and photographs, military awards, decorations, the unofficial awards and “funny stuff”

Reserve and National Guard service?

Out of business hospitals and physicians’ offices: where are the records?

Post-discharge employment and medical records?

Current letters from family, friends, service colleagues?

Social security disability?

Workmen’s compensation?

Website use: be mindful of or avoid non-official sites; use reputable sites (g., official government, foundations, and medical societies)

No “rules” of evidence but Board must weigh evidence for probative value

CONSIDERATION 4: DEALING WITH THE UNSUBSTANTIATED

Effective advocates know the reason the claim was denied and are prepared to address the deficiency or deficiencies.

Consider using arguments that the evidence is in “approximate” balance now – no need to remand the claim!

Avoid arguments based on “secret records,” the non-sensical allegation, and conspiracy theories

Service connection:

38 U.S.C. 1154(b): If veteran served in combat, account of what occurred in combat is presumed credible for purposes of development and adjudication of the claim.

38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(a): VA must give “due consideration” to the places, types, and circumstances of such Veteran’s service as shown by such Veteran’s service record, the official history of each organization in which such Veteran served, such Veteran’s medical records, and all pertinent medical and lay

Increased and Initial Rating Cases:

Argue progression of the disorder – if last laboratory findings show worsening and are now close to schedular criteria for a higher rating, argue findings likely now approximate those for a higher rating

Argue “recovery” time (especially in psychiatric and orthopedic disorders)

Argue or ask for a specific and realistic disposition – (g., not “an increased rating” but “a 40 percent rating.”)

If needed, ask for a limited “record open” period – adequately identify the nature of the missing record and its location. If and only if needed, request a remand

Extensive records and record extracts?: helpful, but ensure new evidence is marked (consider waiver of RO consideration)

Generally, the degree of probative value which may be attributed to a medical opinion issued by a VA or private treatment provider is weighed by such factors as its thoroughness and degree of detail, and whether there was review of the veteran’s claims file. Prejean v. West, 13 Vet.App. 444 (2000).

Did the examining medical provider had a sufficiently clear and well-reasoned rationale, as well as a basis in objective supporting clinical data. Bloom v. West, 12 Vet.App. 185 (1999); Hernandez- Toyens v. West, 11 Vet.App. 379 (1998); see also Claiborne Nicholson, 19 Vet.App. 181 (2005) (rejecting medical opinions that did not indicate whether the physicians actually examined the veteran, did not provide the extent of any examination, and did not provide any supporting clinical data).

A bare conclusion, even one reached by a health care professional, is not probative without a factual predicate in the record. Miller West, 11 Vet.App. 345 (1998).

In order for a medical opinion to be probative, the medical examiner must have correct information regarding the relevant facts of the case. Nieves-Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet.App. 295 (2008), Stefl v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 120 (2007); Guerrieri Brown, 4 Vet.App. 467 (1993) (observing that the evaluation of medical evidence involves inquiry into, inter alia, the medical expert’s personal examination of the patient, the physician’s knowledge and skill in analyzing the data, and the medical conclusion that the physician reaches); see Shipwash v. Brown, 8 Vet.App. 218 (1995); Flash v. Brown, 8 Vet.App. 332 (1995) (regarding the duty of VA to provide medical examinations conducted by medical professionals with full access to and review of the veteran’s claims folder); but see D’Aries v. Peake, 22 Vet.App. 97 (2008) (holding that it is not necessary for a VA medical examiner to specify review of the claims folder where it is clear from the report that the examiner has done so and is familiar with the claimant’s extensive medical history).

D’Aries v. Peake, 22 Vet.App. 97 (2008) (holding that the benefit of the doubt doctrine is a legal construct to be applied by VA adjudicators when the evidence is approximately balanced, not by a medical professional in the rendering of medical opinions).

Guerrieri v. Brown, 4 Vet.App. 467 (1993) (the evaluation of medical evidence involves inquiry into, inter alia, the medical expert’s personal examination of the patient, the physician’s knowledge and skill in analyzing the data, and the medical conclusion that the physician reaches).

Bloom v. West, 12 Vet.App. 185 (1999) (noting that the use of the term “could,” without other rationale or supporting data, is speculative);

Goss v. Brown, 9 Vet.App. 109 (1996) (noting that the use of the phrase “could not rule out” was too speculative to establish medical nexus);

Tirpak v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 609 (1992) (holding that medical opinions are speculative and of little or no probative value when a physician makes equivocal findings such as “the veteran’s death may or may not have been averted”).

Kowalski v. Nicholson, 19 Vet.App. 171 (2005) (holding that it is error to reject a medical opinion solely on the basis that the medical opinion was based on a history given by the veteran).

Leshore v. Brown, 8 Vet.App. 406 (1995) (the mere transcription of medical history does not transform the information into competent medical evidence merely because the transcriber happens to be a medical professional).

Nieves- Rodriguez v. Peake, 22 Vet.App. 295 (2008) (the probative value of a medical opinion depends upon whether it is factually accurate, fully articulated, and contains sound reasoning for the conclusion, not the mere fact that the claims file was reviewed).

Polovick v. Shinseki, 23 Vet. App. 48 (2009)(a medical opinion may be speculative when it uses equivocal language such as “may well be,” “could,” or “might”).

Sklar v. Brown, 5 Vet.App. 140 (1993)(observing that a specialist’s opinion as to a medical matter outside of his or her specialty to be given little weight).